Usage of Transition Words in Essays - Ms. Zimny Power GED



Transition Words?As a "part of speech"?transition words?are used to link words, phrases or sentences. They help the reader to progress from one idea (expressed by the author) to the next idea. Thus, they help to build up coherent relationships within the text.Transitional WordsThis structured list of commonly used English?transition words?— approximately 200, can be considered as quasi complete. It can be used (by students and teachers alike) to find the right expression. English transition words are essential, since they not only connect ideas, but also can introduce a certain shift, contrast or opposition, emphasis or agreement, purpose, result or conclusion, etc. in the line of argument.?The transition words and phrases have been assigned only once to somewhat artificial categories, although some words belong to more than one category.There is some overlapping with?prepositions?and postpositions, but for the purpose of usage and completeness of this concise guide, I did not differentiate.Agreement / Addition / SimilarityThe transition words like?also, in addition, and, likewise,?add information,?reinforce ideas, and?express agreement?with preceding material.in the first placenot only ... but alsoas a matter of factin like mannerin additioncoupled within the same fashion / wayfirst, second, thirdin the light ofnot to mentionto say nothing ofequally importantby the same tokenagaintoandalsothenequallyidenticallyuniquelylikeastoomoreoveras well astogether withof courselikewisecomparativelycorrespondinglysimilarlyfurthermoreadditionally?Opposition / Limitation / ContradictionTransition phrases like?but,?rather?and?or, express that there is evidence to the?contrary?or point out?alternatives, and thus introduce a change the line of reasoning (contrast).?although this may be truein contrastdifferent fromof course ..., buton the other handon the contraryat the same timein spite ofeven so / thoughbe that as it maythen againabove allbut(and)?stillunlikeor(and)?yetwhilealbeitbesidesas much aseven thoughalthoughinsteadwhereasdespiteconverselyotherwisehoweverratherneverthelessnonethelessregardlessnotwithstandingCause / Condition / PurposeThese transitional phrases present specific?conditions?or?intentions.?in the event thatgranted (that)as / so long ason (the) condition (that)for the purpose ofwith this intentionwith this in mindin the hope thatto the end thatfor fear thatin order toseeing / being thatin view ofIf... thenunlesswhenwheneverwhilebecause ofassincewhilelestin caseprovided thatgiven thatonly / even ifso thatso as toowing toinasmuch asdue toEffect / Consequence / ResultSome of these transition words (thus, then, accordingly, consequently, therefore, henceforth) are time words that are used to show that?after?a particular time there was a?consequence?or an?effect. Note that?for?and?because?are placed before the cause/reason. The other devices are placed before the consequences or effects.?as a resultunder those circumstancesin that casefor this reasonin effectforthusbecause thethenhenceconsequentlythereforethereuponforthwithaccordinglyhenceforthExamples /Support / EmphasisThese transitional devices (like?especially) introduce examples as support, to indicate?importance?or as an?illustration?so that an idea is cued to the reader.?in other wordsto put it differentlyfor one thingas an illustrationin this casefor this reasonto put it another waythat is to saywith attention toby all means??important to realizeanother key pointfirst thing to remembermost compelling evidencemust be rememberedpoint often overlookedto point outon the positive sideon the negative sidewith this in mindnotablyincludingliketo be surenamelychieflytrulyindeedcertainlysurelymarkedlysuch asespeciallyexplicitlyspecificallyexpresslysurprisinglyfrequentlysignificantlyparticularlyin factin generalin particularin detailfor examplefor instanceto demonstrateto emphasizeto repeatto clarifyto explainConclusion / Summary / RestatementThese transition words and phrases?conclude,?summarize?and / or?restate ideas, or indicate a final?general statement. Also some words (like?therefore) from the?Effect / Consequence?category can be used to summarize.?as can be seengenerally speakingin the final analysisall things consideredas shown abovein the long rungiven these pointsas has been notedin a wordfor the most partafter allin factin summaryin conclusionin shortin briefin essenceto summarizeon balancealtogetheroverallordinarilyusuallyby and largeto sum upon the wholein any eventin either caseall in allObviouslyUltimatelyDefinitely?Time / Chronology / SequenceThese transitional words (like?finally) have the function of limiting, restricting, and defining?time. They can be used either alone or as part of?adverbial expressions.?at the present timefrom time to timesooner or laterat the same timeup to the present timeto begin within due timeas soon asas long asin the meantimein a momentwithout delayin the first placeall of a suddenat this instantfirst, secondimmediatelyquicklyfinallyafterlaterlastuntiltillsincethenbeforehencesincewhenonceaboutnextnowformerlysuddenlyshortly(continued………)henceforthwhenevereventuallymeanwhilefurtherduringin timeprior toforthwithstraightawayby the timewheneveruntil nownow?thatinstantlypresentlyoccasionally?Many transition words in the time category (consequently; first, second, third; further; hence; henceforth; since; then, when; and whenever) have other uses.Except for the numbers (first, second, third) and?further?they add a meaning of?time?in expressing conditions, qualifications, or reasons. The numbers are also used to?add information?or?list examples.?Further?is also used to indicate added space as well as added time.Space / Location / PlaceThese transition words are often used as part of?adverbial expressions?and have the function to restrict, limit or qualify?space. Quite a few of these are also found in the?Time?category and can be used to describe spatial order or spatial reference.?in the middleto the left/rightin front ofon this sidein the distancehere and therein the foregroundin the backgroundin the center ofadjacent toopposite to?heretherenextwherefromovernearabovebelowdownupunderfurtherbeyondnearbywhereveraroundbetweenbeforealongsideamidamongbeneathbesidebehindacross?Transition Words are also sometimes called (or put in the category of) Connecting Words. Please feel free to?download?them via this link to the category page:Linking Words & Connecting Words?as a PDF.Usage of Transition Words in EssaysTransition words and phrases are vital devices for?essays, papers or other literary compositions. They improve the connections and transitions between sentences and paragraphs. They thus give the text a logical organization and structure (see also: a?List of Synonyms).All English?transition words?and?phrases?(sometimes also called 'conjunctive adverbs') do the same work as?coordinating conjunctions: they connect two words, phrases or clauses together and thus the text is easier to read and the coherence is improved.Usage: transition words are used with a special rule for?punctuation: a semicolon or a period is used after the first 'sentence', and a comma is almost always used to set off the transition word from the second 'sentence'.Example 1:?People use 43 muscles when they frown; however, they use only 28 muscles when they smile.?Example 2:?However, transition words can also be placed at the beginning of a new paragraph or sentence - not only to indicate a step forward in the reasoning, but also to relate the new material to the preceding thoughts.Use a semicolon to connect sentences, only if the group of words on either side of the semicolon is a complete sentence each (both must have a subject and a verb, and could thus stand alone as a complete thought).Further helpful readings about expressions, writing and grammar: Compilation of Writing Tips?How to write good?? ? ? Correct Spelling?Study by an English University ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download